San Jose leaders acknowledge the absent councilman, but calls for his resignation continue

The controversy surrounding San Jose Councilman Omar Torres continues to escalate.
On Tuesday, the city council discussed whether to excuse his absence from a meeting following the revelation of the allegations against him. An unexcused absence could lead to his removal from office, but the majority of the council ultimately voted to excuse Torres’s absence.
This marked Torres’s second consecutive absence from a city council meeting. Councilman Bien Doan proposed not excusing him for the previous meeting. During the session, the council voted to remove Torres from his official appointments.
The count of absences is significant because the city charter stipulates that after five consecutive unexcused absences, a council member may be removed.
Torres has stated that he was absent due to illness, which coincided with the announcement by police that he was under criminal investigation for allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor.
“I think it’s appalling and sickening, and I will not stand for that,” Doan stated. “I, along with my colleagues, ask for his resignation.”
Mayor Matt Mahan sided with the majority on Tuesday, voting to excuse Torres’s absence.
“After consulting with the city attorney, I unfortunately don’t believe it’s in the city’s best interest to dispute whether he was sick on a single day two weeks ago,” he said. “That said, he needs to resign. We’ve called on him to do so. He’s holding his seat hostage.”
Mahan indicated that if Torres continues to miss meetings, the matter could be revisited. He added that voters might need to initiate a recall if Torres does not step down.
The allegations against Torres surfaced when he reported to police that he was being extorted by a man with whom he had a previous relationship. Investigators are now trying to determine if the alleged extortionist was a minor when the relationship began.
According to text messages in court documents, Torres also discussed sexual acts with another 17-year-old.
Torres’s attorney has previously dismissed these exchanges as role play between partners and maintains that his client is innocent of all charges.
On Tuesday, Melissa Reyes, a business owner from District 3, addressed the council and echoed the increasing calls for Torres to resign.
“We are all talking about it in our district, and someone needs to express what we’re all thinking,” Reyes said. “Right now, we need representation for District 3. I truly believe Mr. Omar Torres cannot represent us given his personal issues.”